Human remains found in Carson, Bassett identified

Remains found at water treatment plants have been identified, but it's a mystery how the body ended up there.

November 26, 2013 12:00:00 AM PST

By Hanna Chu

CARSON, Calif. --

Human remains found at two Los Angeles County water treatment plants have been identified, but it remains a mystery how the body ended up there.

Authorities say the remains were identified as 27-year-old Erin Lynn Cruz of the East San Gabriel Valley. Investigators say she stayed at various homes of family members and friends.

Cruz was last seen alive with an unidentified man in the La Puente area on the night of Oct. 23. Lt. Mike Rosson of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department says that man is considered a person of interest at this time, but not a suspect.

Investigators say Cruz's lower extremities were discovered on Oct. 26 at a Carson facility on the 24500 block of South Figueroa Street. Then on Monday, the upper torso was found at a plant in Bassett. On Oct. 31, workers doing maintenance work at the Carson facility found her left arm.

The cause of Cruz's death has not yet been determined. Authorities say she may have been dumped into a manhole somewhere in the San Gabriel Valley, north of the 60 Freeway and between the 605 Freeway and the La Verne area. Then her body was torn apart by the machinery in the sewage treatment process.

Detectives say Cruz spent time in jail for narcotics charges, but it remains unknown why anyone would have targeted her.